Bike Reviews

This knobby self-massage tool takes foam rolling to a new level. If you’ve ever used a foam roller, you know that rolling your hard worked legs (and back) can do wonders for breaking up knots that form in your muscles, resulting in a better range of motion. But sometimes, it’s hard to really dig into specific spots with the smooth surface of a traditional roller. Not so with the 6” x 31” RumbleRoller, which is covered with 200 firm, but flexible, knobs that act like thumbs to dig in and knead your soft tissues.

The experience is intense. When the roller came into my office (blue, original density), I immediately plopped my IT band down on it and proceeded to roll away with all my weight and nearly hit the ceiling. I backed off a bit and was still undecided if I liked this rough new “masseuse.” Then I rolled on my back and was sold. It worked out all my hard to hit kinks with just three or four rolls. I felt better immediately.

Another benefit of the knobs is you can rock your muscles back and forth on them without rolling. For instance, I like to sit against a wall on the floor and prop my calves on the roller and gently knead all the tight spots—often finding many I didn’t know I had.

I also tried the smaller, 5” x 12” roller, but found the diameter a little too small to get the leverage I wanted to get and it wasn’t long enough to work the full sized-model’s magic on my back. At $70, RumbleRoller is the priciest foam roller I’ve seen. But, if you’re not quite getting the full relief you’re seeking from your standard roller, it may be worth the price.—Selene Yeager